Beaches and Pools

New, full service resort located 6 miles north of the hustle and bustle of San Pedro. Offering barefoot luxury with stylish and spacious accommodations. Located North of San Pedro, Portofino sits on the most beautiful beaches of the island. PORTOFINO is located on Ambergris Caye, the largest Island (Caye) along the Belize Barrier Reef (second largest in the world). Needless to say, that this is the most spectacular dive paradise in the world, including the Blue Hole, made famous by Jacques Cousteau, during his 1970 expedition with the Calypso, but there is more

Although you come to a very peaceful and quiet resort, town, shops and the nightlife are just 15 minutes away by boat. Many of the best restaurants (including Portofino\'s La Cuisine are located north of San Pedro.

AccommodationsPORTOFINO offers eight (8) beach cabanas with clear and unobstructed Caribbean views, along with three (3) Tree Top suites that are on stilts 10ft (3 mts) in the air, offering beautiful views over the Caribbean and the second longest Barrier Reef in the world. To the rear of the suites is an amazing view of the lagoon, home to an assortment of rare tropical birds and the occasional Crocodile.

The cabanas have a superb view of the sea and the sunrise. The suites offer a superb view of the sea sunrise and the sunset at the rear of the property.

CABANAS

Each cabana is on the sand and measures 12ft by 24ft and offers queen-size bed with a view through the front picture windows of the beach. Each bed is draped with a pure linen mosquito net and pure cotton sheets. Floor rugs are from Guatemala, and assorted decorations from Belize and Mexico. The inside of the roof shows the hand thatched Palapa roof rising 18ft into the air. Bathrooms are spacious and airy, and offer a hand sink, toilet and circular shower, adorned with Mexican tiles and mirrors. The roof of the bathroom is also palapa and hangs over the bed giving a false roof and concealed lighting.

Each cabana has a good size deck with deck chairs and hammocks over looking the beach.

SUITES

Each suite measures 24t by 24ft and is elevated ten (10) feet in the air on Sapodilla wood legs with a wide staircase made of local woods for entry. Each offers a queen-size bed on the centre of the room and stunning views through the massive picture windows. A raised platform on each side of the suite offers a seating and reading area as well as a closet and dressing area.

The bathrooms in the suites are very large and offer two (2) sinks, toilet, large circular shower and windows over the lagoon. All ceilings in the suite are open to the thatched palapa giving a very beautiful effect. Each suite has a full-length balcony offering great views of the Caribbean and sunrise, with hand carved deck chairs and hammocks.

PORTOFINO offers one, very special, VIP/Honeymoon Suite measuring over 800 sq.ft and full of special touches, including Emperor bed, Jacuzzi, special bathroom and furnishings fit for a King.

The PORTOFINO service is second to none. Room service is offered to every room, daily housekeeping service and 24 hour maintenance is available for any problems that might occur.

Beach service covers beach raking and cleaning every morning and arrangement of all hammocks and sunchairs. Drinks service also extends to the beach for all guests.

Everybody dreams of a wedding in our Tropical Paradise. We will be happy to make it an exotic dream event with memories to last for a lifetime. Just let us know what you have in mind, and we will make it come true, whether it is an intimate barefoot beach ceremony for two or an elaborate event for a large group. PORTOFINO has a selection of beautiful locations for your wedding: Step over a Japanese Bridge on our dock into your new life, or start it under the Green Roof of a Massive Sea Grape, look out over the Caribbean Sea and the Barrier Reef from the Elevated Terrace of our restaurant, or choose the garden with our enchanting Natural Flower Arch, a tangle of bougainvillea, roses, and blooming vines.

Legal Requirements are very simple if you are over 18 years old and we will be happy to help. To apply for a wedding license, you only have to be in the country three days prior to the wedding, and the license has to be applied for at least 24 hours in advance. Don\'t forget that you need proof of citizenship (either a birth certificate that includes the father\'s name or a valid passport). If it is not your first time, you will also need proof or divorce, if applicable, or a copy of your previous spouse\'s death certificate if you are widowed.

Ministers of almost all denominations can bless your vows as long as we know well enough in advance.

We will be happy to arrange for a Photographer so that you can take home your memories in beautiful pictures. We can also book Other Services like hairdresser, massages, manicure, facials, to name just a few.

Live Music? No problem, just let us know.

How about an abundance of candles and Tropical Flowers like Ginger, Flamingo Flowers, Heliconia, Jungle Flame, or Orchids for a romantic setting as well as for your bridal bouquet and a boutonniere?

Our Restaurant offers a fine selection of European style cuisine, and we will be happy to make suggestions for your wedding dinner incorporating your personal preferences, and a wedding cake if you like. Fresh local seafood should definitely feature prominently.

For your Toasts, you have a selection of Champagnes and Wines including some very fine French champagnes, or maybe you prefer a colourfully decorated Tropical Cocktail.

We will be happy to accommodate you and your guests, and for your honeymoon, our elegant Honeymoon Suite is an absolute must. Please see our honeymoon package for more information.

Just let us have your personal preferences and We will tailor the Perfect Event for you, planned Especially For You.

All rooms equipped with ceiling fans, AC, TV, mini-fridge,full, private bath and our Honeymoon Suite has a jacuzzi tub.The PORTOFINO service is second to none. Room service is offered to every room, daily housekeeping service and 24 hour maintenance is available for any problems that might occur.Beach service covers beach raking and cleaning every morning and arrangement of all hammocks and sunchairs. You can have a drink at the Green Parrot Bar, but drink service also extends to the beach and the dock.At our Restaurant, La Cuisine, we combine European specialties, ranging from Italian to Mediterranean, highlighted by what French Chefs call Nouvelle Cuisine. The motto is: European Specialties With a Personal Touch . Whether you come for a lunch with the most beautiful view from our balcony, or to enjoy our specialties during dinner La Cuisine is the right place.Reception in the main building is manned by professional and knowledgeable staff who is available for any request. Our staff can advise you competently on all tours and detailed written descriptions are also available.Our landscaping is tended to by our full time gardeners and cuttings of flowers and plants are taken daily and placed in the rooms, to ensure constant fresh flowers to all our guests.Access to PORTOFINO is by boat only, and therefore we offer a complimentary meet and greet service at San Pedro Airstrip and boat transfer to the resort, an approximately 15 minutes ride. Our concierge service ensures that all guest luggage is taken promptly to the rooms.We also offer a free boat service to San Pedro Town for our guests, several times per day. Outside of these times, there is the Island Ferry service that runs up and down the island at least every two hours, and can be reserved at the reception.PORTOFINO is proud to offer the very best service on the island with no expense spared to ensure our guests have a relaxing and memorable vacation.Hello, let us introduce ourselves: We are Portofino, located 6 miles North of San Pedro, opposite to the Mexico Rocks. We are a small but beautiful European orientated Resort. We would like to invite you to come over and try out our cuisine.La Cuisine is open from 7:30 am for breakfast and closes 9 pm after dinner, we are closed between 4 pm and 7 pm.Get your morning off to a delicious start with an assortment of breakfast.Enjoy lunch with our special of the day. If you prefer, enjoy a more leisurely lunch from our combination menu.Dinner is our specialty. Our menu is a medley of European Cuisine ranging from Italian to Mediterranean highlighted by what French Chefs call Nouvelle Cuisine. We simplified and eliminated complexity and instead emphasized the plain natural tastes of basic, fresh ingredients. From our mouth- watering appetizers to award-winning entrees, you can be sure our ingredients are always at their peak condition like herbs and garnishes picked from our garden daily.Our kaleidoscope of menu includes classics such as farm-raised Canard a L'Orange to our Brochetta di Gamberetti e Conchiferi al Champagne which boasts some of the sea's finest.

We are able to arrange all your tour/trip needs...diving, fishing, snorkeling, mainland tours...everything!As a result of the protection by the reef, there is an abundance of underwater life, attracting many fish, making this the ultimate fishing paradise in the world. The flats offer some of the best Salt Water Fly Fishing in the world.Explore Belize on daytrips starting from the Portofino dock; visit the many spectacular Mayan ruins, in the middle of pristine rivers, waterfalls and rainforest jungle, housing a wide range of plants, animals, and birds. Over 40% of Belize consists of protected wildlife parks and reserves. Or go to one of the the many Caves in Belize, with Maya remains, spectacular geologic cave formations, or just relax and go Cave Tubing.We also have different packages available: Honeymoon packages, Dive packages and Fishing packages, just click on the one you are interested in, or go to the Packages page.If you are looking for something different, something select, exclusive and something a notch above the rest . . .PORTOFINO DIVING:Belize is known for its unique dive opportunities, although a small country, it is nestled along the second largest barrier reef (200 miles / 322 km). Between the mainland and the reef sit more than 450 cayes, islets and islands, including Ambergris Caye and this is where PORTOFINO is located.The Belize reef is only ' mile (800 meters) from the PORTOFINO beach, and you can see it from all the cabana's, suites and especially the restaurant. All diving starts from the PORTOFINO dock, and you can discuss the dive the evening before with your instructor in the bar or the restaurant.PORTOFINO is a luxurious resort, build right on the beach. We are located 6 miles (10 kilometers) north of San Pedro, at the most beautiful part of the island. Although you come to a very peaceful and quiet resort, town, shops and the night life is just 15 minutes away by boat. Many of the best restaurants (including Portofino's LA CUISINE) are located north of San Pedro.PORTOFINO FISHING:Belize offers some great fishing opportunities: Fly Fishing, Reef Fishing and Deep Sea Fishing. Without a doubt Fly fishing and Night Reef Fishing are the most popular at PORTOFINO. Our guides have over 15 years of experience, and that is what counts, as they are some of the best in Belize.A selection of fish that can be caught near PORTOFINO ranges from:Tarpon . Bonefish . Permit . Snapper . Barracuda . Grouper . Jackfish . Jewfish . Surgeonfish Wrasse . Chub . Mullet . Triggerfish . Shark and many many more.In season, we also offer Deep Sea fishing for Wahoo, Sailfish, Marlin, Billfish, Shark and other big game species. Trips are offered half day or full day.The Belize reef is only 1/2 mile (800 meters) from the PORTOFINO beach, and you can see it from all the cabana's, suites and especially the restaurant. Just go outside the reef, and that is where deep Sea Fishing starts. Ambergris Caye is surrounded by Flats, excellent for Fly Fishing; Bone Fish, Tarpon and Permit. All fishing trips starts from the PORTOFINO dock.PORTOFINO is a luxurious resort, build right on the beach. We are located 6 miles (10 kilometers) north of San Pedro, at the most beautiful part of the island. Although you come to a very peaceful and quiet resort, town, shops and the night life is just 15 minutes away by boat. Many of the best restaurants (including Portofino's LA CUISINE) are located north of San Pedro.Best fishing seasons while at PORTOFINO:Tarpon: All year round; April through September are very good.*** for July through September!Bonefish: All year round, April through November are very good.Permit: February through November, March through May are very good.Reef Fishing: All year round; March through August are very good.EXPLORE BELIZE:Belize has many spectacular Mayan ruins. The mystique of these Mayan Civilizations, which originated long before Europeans set foot on the America's, is undeniable.Belize is blessed with pristine rivers, waterfalls, rainforest national parks, and great jungle hiking. Over 40% of Belize consists of protected wildlife parks and reserves. This provides us with unlimited and exciting opportunities to explore and view a wide range of plants, animals, and birds. The pristine rain forest is host to many memorable sights, including waterfalls.Also there are many caves in Belize and Cave Tubing is a word invented here. There are Maya remains in the caves, spectacular geologic cave formations, or relax and go Cave Tubing.Belize is nestled along the second largest barrier reef (200 miles / 322 km). Between the mainland and the reef sit more than 450 cayes, islets and islands, including Ambergris Caye where PORTOFINO is located.This area is ideal for eco tourism, as the nature is rich and virtually untouched.

Okay, but not great.

The weather was great, but people staying here whould be aware that
1. The rooms are too close together. All of the beach front bungalows have 2 rooms in them and the bungalows are about 5 feet apart. If your neighbor watches TV, walks or goes to the bathroom, you will be disturbed.

2. The descriptions of packages are inaccurate, the full day snorkel with the honeymoon package starts at 1:30 and obviously doesn't include lunch. The honeymoon suite is above 2 other rooms and there may be noisy children and cigar smokers below you. The lagoon is barely visible, not right outside the back.

3. The equipment they loan is real cheap and poorly maintained. There is no attempt to sanitize snorkels or other equipment between guests.

4. The restaurant is good, but the menu much more limited than listed on the web site. You'll want to eat elsewhere at least 1/2 the days.

5. The managment doesn't go out of its way to be helpful, but many of the employees do. There are much better tours and activities than the resort offers but you'll have to find them yourself.

6. This is the exact opposite of eco-tourism which is popular in Belize. The back of the resort is a garbage dump of nonrecyclables.

7. You can't swim in the water of the beach. It's too low and covered with seagrass.

Beautiful scenery, expect to slow down

The views are gorgeous. The service, well, just understand what you are getting into. We were on our honeymoon and maybe wanted a little more than what we got. Only accessible by boat, make sure to budget for trips to town. You have to get a water taxi to take you in, as the facility's boats run at odd and inconvenient hours. Don't expect the royal treatment as some staff have alternative priorities. But you will slow down and enjoy the views, warm weather, and relaxation. Beach has to be raked daily (it is...) but the water has a lot of seaweed in it.

SIMPLY PARADISE!!

My husband, Mike, and I just celebrated our 25th Anniversary at the Portofino Beach Resort for eight glorious days and 7 nights. I am struggling to find words powerful enough to describe the outstanding time that we had at the Portofino. We spent quite a bit of time searching for a location to celebrate our marriage before we settled on the Portofino. We were looking for a place that was not too big but quaint (where we did not feel like one of 500 guests . . . but more of one of 50 guests) where the staff cared about the guests; a place not directly in the middle of the “city/nightlife” but close enough if we wanted to go party; a place that was clean; a place that had terrific food; and lastly a place that had a good contacts with the local/reputable tour companies. We found all of that and SO MUCH MORE at the Portofino!

What did we like best about the Portofino . . . well like I mentioned above, it met all of the criteria that we were looking for. The rooms were very clean; the beds comfortable; and the property immaculate. Every morning, the staff was out cleaning up any debris that may have floated in from the sea or leaves that fell off the trees. The pool was a wonderful place to swim or just relax. We had read in some previous reviews that some guests had a problem with the water system at the Portofino – that it contained brine. Over the last year, they have upgraded their water system and we had no issues with not feeling clean after we took our showers. I would recommend that regardless of where you stay – and I hope you choose the Portofino – that you get yourself a good leave-in conditioner as the salt water can be tough on your hair.

We ate in town several times BUT we ended up eating for the remainder of our stay at the Portofino Restaurant – you just couldnxxxxxxxxxxxxxxt beat the quality and the prices in town. The food there is five star and in fact nightly you would find guests from other resorts coming to the Portofino for dinner. My husband caught a barracuda and they cooked it up for us Creole style – YUM!!

We would recommend that when you are in San Pedro to try Mangos Restaurant and have an ice cream at Manellyxxxxxxxxxxxxxxs Ice Cream (right next to Fidos). Our favorite stores in town were “Ambar” (located in Fidos courtyard). She carried beautiful jewelry. We also really liked “Granielxxxxxxxxxxxxxxs Dreamland” (located on Middle Street) for beautiful carved wood. AND if you want an outstanding massage and/or facial try “Sol Spa” in San Pedro! The best facial that I have ever had.

Back to the Portofino – they helped us to arrange several adventures during our stay and we were extremely pleased with the reputable groups that they hooked us up with. We went to Barton Creek and the Xunantunich Mayan site. While this was an all day trip – it was really worth it to see Belize and meet the locals! We also took two snorkeling trips – one to Mexico Rocks and the other to Hol Chan. We were able to see more wildlife at Hol Chan. Mike took an all day fishing trip with someone that he met at Fidos and NOT through Portofino. He was disappointed. While the price was somewhat cheaper than through the group referred to through Portofino – the boat was very small; they were not able to go outside of the reef area; and no lunch was provided. Next time he will go through the group recommended by Portofino.

And last but not least, our stay was made even more memorable by the owners and staff of Portofino! It felt like we had known them all of our lives – it felt like family! They did everything that they could to ensure that our stay was comfortable, memorable and enjoyable. I want to specifically mentioned Sandra (she and her husband own the Portofino); Roselie and Bertha (who worked in the office and managed logistics and trips); Mo (the Portofino Boat Captain); Orville and Rafael (the Bartenders and story tellers extraordinaire); Karla, Rachael and Marleini (who worked in the restaurant); Bella (one of the Chefs) and Carlos (who did our “wake-up knock knocks” so we didnxxxxxxxxxxxxxxt miss our trips). How many places have you been to that you remember the names of the staff? I travel quite a bit and I can't say that I have experienced this too many times!

I think how a resort handles an “emergency” situation says a lot. While we were there, the ENTIRE COUNTRY OF BELIZE had a power outage! They ensured that all guests were present and accounted for; they had backup generators up and running in now time; there were a couple of rooms where the lights didnxxxxxxxxxxxxxxt come on right away with the generator so they supplied candles and hurricane lamps. We were very, very impressed with how they handled this situation. We enjoyed some quiet time by candle light for about an hour until the power was restored.

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH PORTOFINO for being a part of our 25th Anniversary. We will be back and miss you all already! Mike and Mary

Portofino has changed

We have been coming here since Portofino was built.I've sent friends and employees down for years.Our room wasn't ready until 5pm.I was told thats the new time.A good time to tell us that is when we are planning our trip so we don't have to kill two hours.I paid for a 3 bedroom and got a 2 1/2 (a daybed),I paid for a king size bed and got a double or queen,I asked to have the safe fixed and the guy left saying it worked but it still doesn't,the private beach is a joke.Now there are 3 rows of chairs,parties and loud music so enjoying the beach was out.The pool is so full they made my 11 year old son remove a small float to make room for people (same float he used here last year).This used to be a 5 star resort that my family could relax in.If something doesn't change it will be a 2.It seems to be overbuilt.The service around the pool is very slow and they just do not seem to want to be working here.When we leave tuesday morning we will not be back.Everything at Portofino has changed.Its a shame.We looked so foward to this each summer.

Travel Details

Date of stay

August 05, 2007

Where are you from (city, state)?

Lawrenceville Ga

Hotel Review Questions

Lovely Portofino

I just returned from Belize and had the pleasure of staying in the beautiful Royal Orchid room at Portofino. I was personally greeted with a complimentary welcome cocktail when I arrived. The resort is small and intimate; elegant yet comfortable. The beach is absolutely lovely with white sand and gentle turquoise water.

The food in the restaurant was well-prepared and offered a good variety. The staff was helpful and courteous. Belize is a laid back place. It's a wonderful place for a relaxing vacation, and Portofino is the perfect place to get away from it all and recharge and enjoy a romantic vacation amid beautiful tropical scenery.

Portofino, A must-go resort!!

We travelled all the way to Belize from Paris, France. It is definitely worth the trip...we really lived there an experience you only see in a movie!

Mo, the captain, picks you up at the San Pedro Airstrip and gives you the ride to the resort. He is very charming and always helpful. If you need someone to travel you around the island, he's the man. Always there!

Once you arrive at Portofino, the staff waits for you on the pier and welcomes you with a refreshing drink and explain you all you need to know to enjoy your stay. We stayed in a beach cabana. They're great: clean, comfortable, perfect A/C and individally furnished with care in the local style. Flowers everywhere in the room, not only for your arrival but every day new fresh flowers. It is great and really gives you the feeling you are in th tropics. The view on the ocean from the rooms is indescribable...You also get the same view whether you sit at
the bar or in the restaurant. The white sand paradise beach is clean and taken care of every morning by the staff. Beach accomation (beach chairs, hot tub, ocean cayak...) is perfect.

The resort offers a great deal of privacy. The location is away from the busy town of San Pedro and other crowded resorts. For those of you who want to enjoy a romantic getaway or an amazing honeymoon this is the place. The resort was full house (only 3 exclusive top suites and 8 beach cabanas + the mansion) and still you feel like you are alone at the resort.

Staff is so gentle and fhe front desk so helpful. Don't bother about
anything, just ask Lorraine or Rosalie. They book restaurants, boat ride, massages, golf kart, diving or snorkeling and island trips... They just do anything to make you stay easy and enjoyable.

The restaurant is good. Food is well presented and service perfect. The beach bar is so cool to enjoy your rest on the beach laying down in the sun. The bar tender is always there at the right moment to ask if you need something refreshing. The outside bar in the evening is a trap! Once there you never take off and end up around the local Belikin beer or cocktails with the other guests...

The owners spend much time with their guests. They are really friendly and invest a lot of time and money in their resort to make it always more luxurious. The swimming pool will be ready for september. Some previous "so-so" reviews on this website are totally outdated and not justified.

We will definitely go back to Portofino and hope that soon direct
flights from Europe will be available...It is a good value deal...

Marvelous stay, beautiful resort

Two visitors from Belgium / EU

We stayed for two weeks at the new mansion (first floor).
The accomodation was just perfect : clean, comfortable , peacefull, cosy and well situated.
The view from the covered terras on the seasite was breathtaking!
We really enjoyed the breakfast and several meals at the restaurant.
The bar, recently extended with an outdoor bar was just the thing for having a nice Belikin beer, a cocoloco or any of the many coctails !
We would like to congratulate owners and staff for the efforts they make every day to indulge their guests!
We felt like being in paradise!
We will certainly visit Portofino again!

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